The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Brittany Barefield,
Josie Byron and Matt Evans lead the charge
It’s been quite a run for the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team (CBMST) freeskiing athletes this season posting some regional and national podium results on the IFSA tour including strong showings on their home hill this past weekend.
All of this coming in spite of the fact that Crested Butte has had a fairly dry winter so far. Coach Will Dujardin believes that the low snow has actually had a positive effect on his athletes skiing.
“It hasn’t been the best snow year but we’re developing super technical skiers that are comfortable where other skiers are not,” says Dujardin.
Josie Byron has seen the most success on the National tour sitting in third place in the overall standings in the 15-18 year old age group. Brittany Barefield and Matt Evans are dominating regional competitions with each sitting in first place among 15-18 year old skiers.
The CBMST defended their home hill on Saturday, March 2 when the IFSA made a regional stop at Crested Butte Mountain winning three of the four ski divisions.
And while it was just a regional comp bringing skiers from Colorado and New Mexico, the talent pool was stout with the young guns tearing Big Chute a new one.
“I know I wasn’t skiing like that at that age,” said event emcee and Crested Butte homegrown skier Ben Somrak.
It truly was incredible.
If you’ve skied Big Chute recently, or even looked up at it, (that is prior to Monday’s storm) you know the shape it was in. A bit thin with a firm surface, albeit carvable, but definitely somewhat heady. Lose an edge at the top and you may find yourself sliding upside down the rest of the way over two small rock bands.
Well, the junior freeskiers and snowboarders apparently thought nothing of it as athletes from throughout the southwest region between the ages of 12 and 18 charged down Big Chute maintaining an edge and complete control the entire time.
CBMST skier Matt Evans skied Big Chute in 18 seconds, maybe 20, on his first run but missed his air to put him in fifth place.
Teammate Oz Scott had a breakthrough run carving his turns throughout the top of Big Chute lining up a straight air off Somrock maintaining complete control. His first run’s time came in around 25 seconds tops.
The CBMST 15-18 year-old girls led the charge on the first run of the day with Brittany Barefield and Josie Byron both laying down the top runs of the first round.
Judges totaled the scores and event organizers decided a Superfinal would be an appropriate way to truly determine who would take the regional event title among the boys and girls.
Barefield had the top score on her first run and upped the ante on her second run to take the win. Byron was in second place coming into the finals and remained there with another fluid and technically sound ski down Big Chute.
Scott was well on his way to stepping up to the top of the podium with another brilliant run down Big Chute but suffered a mistake at the very bottom of the venue. After stomping through all of the tricky sections and landing his air off Somrock flawlessly, Scott got bit by a snowsnake on his final turn to the finish line and tumbled.
“It would have been pretty cool to see Oz win,” says Dujardin.
Evans was sitting in fifth place after his first run but sealed the win on his second run to maintain his regional domination.
“He dialed in his run and flashed it again,” says Dujardin.
Maile Cowell joined her teammates on the top of the podium winning the girls 12-14 year old division.
The team will remain in the valley as the IFSA returns to Crested Butte Friday and Saturday, March 8-9 for a National event.
“This event will definitely bring in a lot of talent,” says Dujardin.
The qualifier day Friday is slated to be held on Hawks Nest with the finals scheduled to run on Staircase.
